Automatic fire-extinguisher.



No. 783,969. PATENT-3D FEB. 2a, 1905.

H. W. MARTIN. AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHER.

APPLIUATION FILED FEB. 11. 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 783,969. PATENTED FEB. 28, 1905.

' H. W. MARTIN.

AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTING-UISHER.

`AIPLIUATION FILED FEB. l1, 1904.

mums-SHEET a. A

IN VEN T01?,

Patented February 28, 1905.

Parnivi HERMAN WV. MARTIN, OF ILION, NfEi/V YORK.

AUTUMATIC FIRE-EXTINGUlSl-lEW..

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 783,969, dated February 2B, 1905.I

Application filed February ll, 1904. Serial No. 193,098.

Be it known that I, HnnMAN W. MARTIN, oi llion, in the county of Herkimer, inthe State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automatic Fire-Extinguishers, ot which the following, taken in connection with the accomlianying drawings, is a t'ull, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in automatic lire-extinguishers to be used in connection with a water-distributing system, and refers more particularly to certain improvements in'the device set `forth in my Patent No. 764,743, July 12, 1904, in which l have claimed, broadly, a pipe having a dischargeopening in combination with a tiltable closure for the opening' and separate fusible ties at diti'erent sides ot' the opening operatively connected to hold the closure in its closed position.

The object is to provide a simple and compact sprinkler-head in which all of the parts are assembled complete and ready for use in the factory, so that they may be readily applied to any water-pipe system by simply screwing the heads into suitable Ts or tap-openings in the water-pipes; but the main object is to provide these heads with suitable Stoppers for the discharge-openings, which Stoppers are held in place by flexible retainers made rigid by the addition of fusible material, such as so't't solder, or by two or more fusible detents located at different points around the discharge-openings, so that it the heat from any accidental lire at one side et the head causesv the fusing of the detents at that side of the head the stopper will be released at this side, but will be held at other points, thus permitting the water to discharge only in the direction oiE the tire and preventing the damage ot the goods by water in other parts of the building. This object, more brieiiy stated, is to cause the automatic discharge of water only in the direction of the fire tor the purpose of reducing the damage by water to a minimum .and direct the extinguishing Vitluid only where needed.

l Another object is to provide a plurality oi detlector-plates ou automatic sprinkler-heads in the path of the discharging' water, one ot' which is directly connected to and forms the stopper for the discharge-opening, the other being rigid and beyoml the liexible connection which holds the tiltable stopper in place.

Other objects and uses will appeal' in the subsequent description.

ln tliedrawings, Figures l and 2 are respectively top plan and side elevation ol my improved automatic sprinller-hczul. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3 3, Fig. l. Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively top plan and side elevation ot' a slightly-modified i'orm ol my invention. Fig. 6 isa sectional view taken on line 6, Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is anclevation of a iurther modilied construction et' sprinkler; and Figs. 8, 9, and .10 are vertical sectional .views oi the device seen in Fig. 7, showing the closure in diil'erent positions.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

In Figs. l to 3, inclusive, l hav* shown an automatic sprinkler-head consisting' ot a base 1, having a threaded nipple 2, which is adapted to be screwed into one ot' the pipes el the `water-distributing system, as the T 8, said base being also provided with a central waterpassage 4 and a central tubular nipple 5 projecting outwardly from the base and forming a continuation et' the central passage 4. This base is preferably cylindrical in t'orm and is enlarged at its outer end, in which is screwed or otherwise secured an annular ring 6, having outwardly-projecting arms 7 terminating in a substantially central hub 8, and in this hub is secured a threaded stem 9 by fusible material 10. A tiltable stopper 1l is seated upon the outer end ot' the nipple 5 to close the discilarge-opening and is provided with a suitable packing l2 to 'torni a water-tight joint and prevent leakage. This stopper is concave-convex in cross-section and caps over the outer end oi" the nipple, with its concave face toward said nipple and its outer edges extending beyond the sides ot' the nipple and suitably serrated to cause the water to spray or spread when escaping through the discharge-opening.

A flexible connection or detent, as a coilspring 13, is interposed between the `outer sition.

face of the stopper 11 and adjacent end of the for deflecting the water toward or onto the stem 9,'and the spaces between the helices of the spring are filled in with fusible material,

as soft solder 141, which, together with the spring, constitutes the normally rigid connection or retainer between the inner end of the stem 9 and outer face of the stopper 11 to positively hold said stopper in its closed po- By thus interposing the fusible material between the helices of the spring 13 a tubular retainer is formed in which the side walls are comparatively thin, and therefore the fusible material is readily melted under a light degree of heat at any point or points in the periphery of the retainer.

It is now apparent that in case of accidental fire if the heat should be more intense at one side of the sprinkler-head than at the other sides the fusible material at the side nearest the fire would readily melt, thus breaking the integrity of the retainer and releasing the helices of the spring 13 at the side nearest the fire, and thereby permitting the same side of the stopper to be tilted outwardly by the pressure of the water while the other side would remain closed, thereby permitting' the water to be discharged directly toward the fire and prevent its discharge in other directions. rI`he advantage of this is obvious, for the reason that it prevents excessive damage by water and at the same time directs the extinguishing fluid toward the fire, where most needed, the stopper 11 serving as a deflector or sprinkler to spread or spray water in sheets as it leaves the discharge-opening of the sprinkler-head.

In order to further insure the spraying or sprinkling of the water in case of displacement of the stopper 11, I provide the inner end of the stem 9 with an additional sprinkler-head or de'liector-plate 15, which in this instance abuts against the outer end of the spring 13, which forms a part of the tubular retainer for the stopper 11. These sprinklers are frequently installed in places where they are liable to be struck and damaged by some object handled by the workmen, and I therefore protect the same by suitable guards 16, which in this instance project from the hub 8, so as overhang the deflector-plate 15, and these, together with the arms 7, partially inclose said defiector-plate and the tubular retainer, as well as the stopper 11.

In addition to the above-described means for holding the stopper in place I provide two or more detents 17, which are attached to the base 1 by fusible material 18, such as soft solder, and engage the outer face of the stopper 11 at ,different points or sides, so that if the heat is more intense at one side the detent at that side will be released `by the fusing of the material 18, while the other detents will remain intact, thus permitting the side of the stopper nearest the fire to tilt outwardly fire.

The stem 9 is shown as held in the hub 8 by fusible material 10, which when fusedas, for instance, in case the whole sprinkler-head is enveloped in flames or excessive heat permits the stopper to move bodily away from its seat, it being understood that in such case the detents 17 would also be released by the fusing' of the material 18, and this bodily release of the stopper of course permits the discharge of the full head of water through the passage 1 and at all sides of the sprinklerhead.

In Figs. 4 to 6, inclusive, I have shown a slightly-modified form of my invention, in which the stopper 11 is held in place through the medium of a flexible chain 2O and fusible material, as soft solder 21, which is used to solder the links of the chain together, and thereby produce a rigid connection between the stopper and a stem 22, said stem being similar to the stem 9 and is also secured in the hub 8 by a fusible connection, as soft solder 23; but in this instance a second deiectorplate 24e is rigidly secured to the hub 8 and encircles the stem 22; otherwise the construction of the sprinkler-head is the same as that seen in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, and the detent 17 may be used in this modification, if desired.

In the operation of the device seen in Figs. 4: to 6, inclusive, assuming that the fire in the building is located at one side of the sprinkler-head the side of the fusible material 21 nearest to the heat would become melted, thereby partially releasing the link and permitting the stopper 11 to tilt and to open the water-passage nearest the fire, while the opposite sides of the stopper would remain closed until the fusible material 21 is entirely melted, whereupon the stopper would be free to move bodily from its seat. It is also apparent. that this bodily Amovement of thestopper would be effected by the fusing of the material 23, which holds the stem 2Q in place.

In Figs. 7 to 10, inclusive, is shown a head 1 and stopper 11, similar to the parts 1 and 11 .seen in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, except that the stopper 11 is formed with a recess in its top, in which is seated a cup a, containing a fusible material I), such as soft solder, sealingwax, or similar material. A metal bearing c rests solely upon the center of this fusible material, and upon and against this bearing is seated retainer-section d. A similar but inverted retainer-section e is secured in a hub, as 8, of the sprinkler-head, and these two sections Z and e project toward each other in a plane substantially coincident with the center of the stopper 11 and discharge-passage of the head 1, and their meeting ends are formed with chisel-bearing edges f and g in different lengthwise planes. A metal tripping-section IOO IIO

to hold cup t and stopper 11 in their closed positions. lt is now apparent that in case of lire should the fusible material in the cup a become melted at one side only the material at that side would soften sufficiently to allow the pressure of water to tilt the stopper and permit the escape of water at that side only,r

or in. case all of the material in the cup should be thus softened by the heat the stopper would open bodily by thesame pressure. lt is also evident that should the fusible connections fr] become melted by the heat it would break the rigidity of the connection between the parts d and e and release the trip /t and stopper l1 held thereby, and thus permit the escape of water through the discharge-opening in the sprinkler-head.

rlhe construction and operation of my invention will now be readily understood by reference to the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings, and it will be noted that the essential feature of the invention consists in providing a tiltable stopper for the discharge-opening of the sprinklerhead and holding' said stopper in place bythe flexible connection made rigid by fusible material, so that the application of heat to one side of the fusible material would melt that side and permit the stopper to open in the direction of the fire; but the form of this fusible connection may be varied in many ways without departing from the spirit of this invention. Therefore I do not limit myself to the precise construction shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, what Iclaim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-A 1. In an automatic lire-extinguisher, a tvater-containing pipe having a dischargepassage, in combination with a stopper for the passage, and a retainer for the stopper centrally in line with the passage having' portions thereof at different sides fusible, whereby when the portion on one side is melted the stopper is tilted and opened at that side by the pressure of water in the pipe.

2. ln an automatic lire-extinguisher, a water-containing pipe having a discharge-pas sage in combination with a stopper, and holding means therefor pressing centrally of and toward the passage, said holding' means having fusible'parts at different sides of the center of the passage whereby when the part at one side is melted the stopper is tilted and opened at that side only.

3. ln an automatic {ire-extinguisher, the

combination with a sprinkler-head having a water-passage therethrough, a tiltablestopper for the passage, a retainer for holding the stopper in position comprising a flexible member and fusible material applied to said member to render the same non-.flexible and means for holding the retainer in place.

4. 1n an automatic sprinkler, the combination with a hollow member having' a waterpassage theretln'ough, a tiltable stopper for the passage and a retainer operatively connected to hold the stopper in place and comprising a flexible member and fusible means secured to said member to render it normally rigid.

In an automatic sprinkler, the combination with a base having a water-passage therein, a tiltable stopper for the water-passage, an abutment and a iiexible retainer between the abutment and stopper and comprising a flexible member and fusi ble material applied to the liexible member to render it non-flexible.

6. In au automatic sprinkler, the combination with a base havinga water-passage therein, a suitable stopper for the passage and a retainer operatively connected to hold the stopper in its closed position and comlnising' a coil-spring and fusible material between the helices of the spring.

7. An automatic sprinkler comprising a base having a water-passage, a stopper for the passage and separate devices carried wholly by the base and connected by fusible material to the base and engaged with the stopper at different pointsl around the opening' for the purpose described.

8. In an automatic sprinkler, thecombination with a sijninklenhead having a waterpassage therein, a stopper for the passage, a retainer operatively connected to hold the stopper in place and comprising a flexible member and fusible material applied to the fusible member to make it rigid, an abutment holding the retainer in place and fusible material operatively applied to hold the abutment in place.

9. In an automatic fire-extinguisher, the combination with a hollow part having a water-passage, a stopper for the passage consisting of a water-deiiecting plate, a second defleeting-plate and fusible means between the plates operatively connected to hold the stopper in place.

lO In an automatic lire-extinguisher, the combinationjvith a hollow part having a water-passage, a stopper for the passage consisting of a water-deflecting plate, and a second deiieeting-plate operatively connected to hold the stopper in place, and a liexible connection between the dellecting-plate and stopper.

1l. ln an automatic.iire-extinguisher, a water-containing pipe havingl a discharge-openingin combination with two deiector-plates arranged one in advance of the other, one of TOO IIC

said plates being tiltable and forming a stopper for the discharge-opening, and means including a fusible part between the plates to hold the stopper-plate in operative position.

12. In an automatic sprinkler, the combination with a sprinkler-head having' a water-passage, a stopperfor the passage, a retainer for the stopper comprising a flexible member and fusible material applied to said member to make it non-lieXible, a stem mounted in the head and operatively connected to hold the retainer in place, and fusible material conneoting the stem to the head to hold it in place. l

13. In an automatic lire-extinguisher, the combination with a base having a Water-passage therethrough, a stopper for the passage,

and guards at the outer end of the delector plate for protecting the same.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 2d day of February, 1904. y

HERMAN IV. MARTIN.

Witnesses: v

H. E. CHASE, MILDRED M. NoTT. 

